Laos plans nuclear power plants

Despite its abundance of energy sources from hydropower in the country, Laos is apparently planning to build nuclear power plants in a cooperation with Russia, World Nuclear News reported.

On April 14, a memorandum of cooperation on nuclear energy “for peaceful purposes” has been signed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Laos.

The memorandum sets a framework for a cooperation of Rosatom and the Laos government in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants and research reactors. They also plan to cooperate in basic and applied research, nuclear and radiation safety, research and development on nuclear medicine technology and in education and training.

The news came as earlier reports stated that Laos intends to set up two nuclear power units with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts each. The planned facilities are likely to be built under a Build-Operate-Transfer contract with Rosatom.

The nuclear power plants fit into Laos’ strategy to become a major energy exporter in Southeast Asia. The country presently has a rather low power production capacity of 8.2 kWh of electricity, but over 80 new power projects are under construction in the country, mainly hydropower dams built with the assistance of China, as well as coal-fired power plants, which are likely to nearly triple energy production capacity.

Laos already exports power to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and is busy building new transmission lines to its neighbours. According to Laos Energy and Mines deputy minister Sinava Souphanouvong, a potential buyer of nuclear power from Laos could be Singapore.

Despite its abundance of energy sources from hydropower in the country, Laos is apparently planning to build nuclear power plants in a cooperation with Russia, World Nuclear News reported.

On April 14, a memorandum of cooperation on nuclear energy “for peaceful purposes” has been signed by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Laos.

The memorandum sets a framework for a cooperation of Rosatom and the Laos government in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants and research reactors. They also plan to cooperate in basic and applied research, nuclear and radiation safety, research and development on nuclear medicine technology and in education and training.

The news came as earlier reports stated that Laos intends to set up two nuclear power units with a capacity of 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts each. The planned facilities are likely to be built under a Build-Operate-Transfer contract with Rosatom.

The nuclear power plants fit into Laos’ strategy to become a major energy exporter in Southeast Asia. The country presently has a rather low power production capacity of 8.2 kWh of electricity, but over 80 new power projects are under construction in the country, mainly hydropower dams built with the assistance of China, as well as coal-fired power plants, which are likely to nearly triple energy production capacity.

Laos already exports power to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and is busy building new transmission lines to its neighbours. According to Laos Energy and Mines deputy minister Sinava Souphanouvong, a potential buyer of nuclear power from Laos could be Singapore.